
1922: Eck Robertson and Henry Gilliland held the first country recording session in New York City. The two collaborated on “Arkansas Traveller.”
1936: Bass player Doyle Holly was born in Perkins, OK. He became a longtime member of Buck Owens’ Buckaroos, contributing to two dozen hits, including “Together Again,” “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” and “My Heart Skips A Beat.”
1941: Songwriter Larry Henley was born in Arp, TX. He sang falsetto lead for the ’60s pop group, The Newbeats, and wrote “The Wind Beneath My Wings,” by Gary Morris; “Lizzie And The Rainman,” by Tanya Tucker; and “Is It Still Over?” by Randy Travis.
1950: Songwriter Rick Carnes was born in Fayetteville, AR. He wrote a trio of country hits for The Whites, plus Reba McEntire’s “Can’t Even Get The Blues” and Garth Brooks’ “Longneck Bottle.”
1957: The Everly Brothers made their national TV debut, singing “Bye Bye Love” on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” live from New York. Bonnie Guitar also appeared on the CBS program, performing “Dark Moon.”
1964: Johnny Cash recorded four songs written by Peter La Farge and one by Johnny Horton to complete his Native American-themed album “Bitter Tears.” The project would receive a Grammy nomination.
1966: Vivian Cash filed for divorce from Johnny Cash. Uncertain where he was residing, she published the court order in The Nashville Banner four times during August.
1970: Roy Acuff oversaw groundbreaking at Opryland. After Acuff blew a whistle, Bashful Brother Oswald broke the ground with a plow pulled by a pair of mules.
1976: Loretta Lynn recorded “She’s Got You” at Bradley’s Barn in Mt. Juliet, TN.
1977: Chet Atkins signed Steve Wariner to his first recording contract with RCA in Nashville.
1980: People magazine put Glen Campbell and Tanya Tucker on the cover with the headline: “The Wildest Love Affair In Showbiz Today.” Campbell said, “I gave God a prayer…and He gave me Tanya.”
1980: Full Moon/Asylum released Johnny Lee’s “Lookin’ For Love.” The B-side is another song from the “Urban Cowboy” soundtrack, The Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes.”
1980: Warner Bros. released Exile’s album “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” introducing two songs that would become Alabama hits: “Take Me Down” and “The Closer You Get.”
1987: Warner Bros. released Highway 101’s self-titled debut album.
1987: RCA released K.T. Oslin’s “80’s Ladies” album.
1989: Killer movie: “Great Balls Of Fire” debuted in theaters with Dennis Quaid portraying piano-pounding Jerry Lee Lewis.
1990: Kenny Chesney began an 11-day tour of the Soviet Union as a member of a collegiate bluegrass group taking part in an international music festival.
1993: Kenny Chesney signed his first recording contract, with Capricorn Records.
1995: Garth Brooks received a star in front of Capitol Records on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He buried the masters to “The Hits” underneath the star.
1998: Vince Gill’s divorce from Janis Gill was finalized. She kept the 151-acre horse ranch and a $750,000 home. She also received $4,000 monthly in child support for two years, until their daughter Jenny turned 18.
2001: Chet Atkins died at home after a long bout with cancer. An influential guitarist and producer who helped create “The Nashville Sound,” he entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973 and earned a Lifetime Achievement award from the Grammys.